The US Register of Copyrights has continued the designation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) following its first periodic review. The decision keeps The MLC responsible for administering the blanket compulsory mechanical license for eligible US streaming and download services.
The rule, published in the Federal Register, confirms that The MLC continues to meet the statutory requirements of the Music Modernization Act (MMA).
Membership and royalty distributions
The Register first designated The MLC in 2019. Since operations began in 2021, the organization has:
- Enrolled nearly 90,000 members.
- Built a public song ownership database containing information on more than 54 million songs.
- Distributed nearly $4 billion in royalties to songwriters and music publishers.
The first periodic review
The MMA requires a periodic review of the collective’s designation. The Register opened the review of The MLC’s initial five-year designation in January 2024 with a notice in the Federal Register.
The MLC submitted information about its operations, governance and performance under the MMA in April 2024. A public comment and reply period followed, and the organization submitted its final filing in July 2024.
Songwriters, major and independent publishers, and music industry organizations expressed support for The MLC during the review.
Kris Ahrend, The MLC’s CEO, welcomed the continued designation and cited support from songwriters, publishers and the music community over the past six and a half years.
Alisa Coleman, The MLC’s board chair, said: “The Register’s decision affirms that The MLC’s governance, operations, and performance continue to meet the standards established by Congress.”
Outreach and the next review
The MLC’s outreach includes education, information about its operations, and data and rights management tools for members. It also provides support to stakeholders.
The organization said it would continue working with the United States Copyright Office, the Digital Licensee Coordinator (DLC) and music industry stakeholders to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.
The next periodic review of The MLC’s designation is expected to begin in January 2029.
